Akty Prawne
Dziennik Urzędowy Unii Europejskiej - Seria L
Dz.U.UE.L.2008.287.3

Konwencja Narodów Zjednoczonych przeciwko korupcji.

UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION AGAINST CORRUPTION

PREAMBLE

THE STATES PARTIES TO THIS CONVENTION,

CONCERNED about the seriousness of problems and threats posed by corruption to the stability and security of societies, undermining the institutions and values of democracy, ethical values and justice and jeopardising sustainable development and the rule of law,

CONCERNED ALSO about the links between corruption and other forms of crime, in particular organised crime and economic crime, including money-laundering,

CONCERNED FURTHER about cases of corruption that involve vast quantities of assets, which may constitute a substantial proportion of the resources of States, and that threaten the political stability and sustainable development of those States,

CONVINCED that corruption is no longer a local matter but a transnational phenomenon that affects all societies and economies, making international cooperation to prevent and control it essential,

CONVINCED ALSO that a comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach is required to prevent and combat corruption effectively,

CONVINCED FURTHER that the availability of technical assistance can play an important role in enhancing the ability of States, including by strengthening capacity and by institution-building, to prevent and combat corruption effectively,

CONVINCED that the illicit acquisition of personal wealth can be particularly damaging to democratic institutions, national economies and the rule of law,

DETERMINED to prevent, detect and deter in a more effective manner international transfers of illicitly acquired assets and to strengthen international cooperation in asset recovery,

ACKNOWLEDGING the fundamental principles of due process of law in criminal proceedings and in civil or administrative proceedings to adjudicate property rights,

BEARING IN MIND that the prevention and eradication of corruption is a responsibility of all States and that they must cooperate with one another, with the support and involvement of individuals and groups outside the public sector, such as civil society, non-governmental organisations and community-based organisations, if their efforts in this area are to be effective,

BEARING ALSO IN MIND the principles of proper management of public affairs and public property, fairness, responsibility and equality before the law and the need to safeguard integrity and to foster a culture of rejection of corruption,

COMMENDING the work of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in preventing and combating corruption,

RECALLING the work carried out by other international and regional organisations in this field, including the activities of the African Union, the Council of Europe, the Customs Cooperation Council (also known as the World Customs Organisation), the European Union, the League of Arab States, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and the Organisation of American States,

TAKING NOTE WITH APPRECIATION of multilateral instruments to prevent and combat corruption, including, inter alia, the Inter-American Convention against Corruption, adopted by the Organisation of American States on 29 March 1996⁽¹⁾, the Convention on the Fight against Corruption involving Officials of the European Communities or Officials of Member States of the European Union, adopted by the Council of the European Union on 26 May 1997⁽²⁾, the Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, adopted by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development on 21 November 1997⁽³⁾, the Criminal Law Convention on Corruption, adopted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on 27 January 1999⁽⁴⁾, the Civil Law Convention on Corruption, adopted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on 4 November 1999⁽⁵⁾, and the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption, adopted by the Heads of State and Government of the African Union on 12 July 2003,

WELCOMING the entry into force on 29 September 2003 of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime⁽⁶⁾,

HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

CHAPTER I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 2

Use of terms

For the purposes of this Convention:

(a) 'public official' shall mean: (i) any person holding a legislative, executive, administrative or judicial office of a State Party, whether appointed or elected, whether permanent or temporary, whether paid or unpaid, irrespective of that person's seniority; (ii) any other person who performs a public function, including for a public agency or public enterprise, or provides a public service, as defined in the domestic law of the State Party and as applied in the pertinent area of law of that State Party; (iii) any other person defined as a 'public official' in the domestic law of a State Party. However, for the purpose of some specific measures contained in Chapter II of this Convention, 'public official' may mean any person who performs a public function or provides a public service as defined in the domestic law of the State Party and as applied in the pertinent area of law of that State Party;

(b) 'foreign public official' shall mean any person holding a legislative, executive, administrative or judicial office of a foreign country, whether appointed or elected; and any person exercising a public function for a foreign country, including for a public agency or public enterprise;

(c) 'official of a public international organisation' shall mean an international civil servant or any person who is authorised by such an organisation to act on behalf of that organisation;

(d) 'property' shall mean assets of every kind, whether corporeal or incorporeal, movable or immovable, tangible or intangible, and legal documents or instruments evidencing title to or interest in such assets;

(e) 'proceeds of crime' shall mean any property derived from or obtained, directly or indirectly, through the commission of an offence;

(f) 'freezing' or 'seizure' shall mean temporarily prohibiting the transfer, conversion, disposition or movement of property or temporarily assuming custody or control of property on the basis of an order issued by a court or other competent authority;

(g) 'confiscation', which includes forfeiture where applicable, shall mean the permanent deprivation of property by order of a court or other competent authority;

(h) 'predicate offence' shall mean any offence as a result of which proceeds have been generated that may become the subject of an offence as defined in Article 23 of this Convention;

(i) 'controlled delivery' shall mean the technique of allowing illicit or suspect consignments to pass out of, through or into the territory of one or more States, with the knowledge and under the supervision of their competent authorities, with a view to the investigation of an offence and the identification of persons involved in the commission of the offence.

Article 4

Protection of sovereignty

CHAPTER II

PREVENTIVE MEASURES

Article 5

Preventive anti-corruption policies and practices

Article 6

Preventive anti-corruption body or bodies

Article 7

Public sector

Each State Party shall, where appropriate and in accordance with the fundamental principles of its legal system, endeavour to adopt, maintain and strengthen systems for the recruitment, hiring, retention, promotion and retirement of civil servants and, where appropriate, other non-elected public officials:

(a) that are based on principles of efficiency, transparency and objective criteria such as merit, equity and aptitude;

(b) that include adequate procedures for the selection and training of individuals for public positions considered especially vulnerable to corruption and the rotation, where appropriate, of such individuals to other positions;

(c) that promote adequate remuneration and equitable pay scales, taking into account the level of economic development of the State Party;

(d) that promote education and training programmes to enable them to meet the requirements for the correct, honourable and proper performance of public functions and that provide them with specialised and appropriate training to enhance their awareness of the risks of corruption inherent in the performance of their functions. Such programmes may make reference to codes or standards of conduct in applicable areas.

Article 8

Codes of conduct for public officials

Article 9

Public procurement and management of public finances

Each State Party shall, in accordance with the fundamental principles of its legal system, take the necessary steps to establish appropriate systems of procurement, based on transparency, competition and objective criteria in decision-making, that are effective, inter alia, in preventing corruption. Such systems, which may take into account appropriate threshold values in their application, shall address, inter alia:

(a) the public distribution of information relating to procurement procedures and contracts, including information on invitations to tender and relevant or pertinent information on the award of contracts, allowing potential tenderers sufficient time to prepare and submit their tenders;

(b) the establishment, in advance, of conditions for participation, including selection and award criteria and tendering rules, and their publication;

(c) the use of objective and predetermined criteria for public procurement decisions, in order to facilitate the subsequent verification of the correct application of the rules or procedures;

(d) an effective system of domestic review, including an effective system of appeal, to ensure legal recourse and remedies in the event that the rules or procedures established pursuant to this paragraph are not followed;

(e) where appropriate, measures to regulate matters regarding personnel responsible for procurement, such as declaration of interest in particular public procurements, screening procedures and training requirements.

Each State Party shall, in accordance with the fundamental principles of its legal system, take appropriate measures to promote transparency and accountability in the management of public finances. Such measures shall encompass, inter alia:

(a) procedures for the adoption of the national budget;

(b) timely reporting on revenue and expenditure;

(d) effective and efficient systems of risk management and internal control; and

(e) where appropriate, corrective action in the case of failure to comply with the requirements established in this paragraph.

Article 10

Public reporting

Taking into account the need to combat corruption, each State Party shall, in accordance with the fundamental principles of its domestic law, take such measures as may be necessary to enhance transparency in its public administration, including with regard to its organisation, functioning and decision-making processes, where appropriate. Such measures may include, inter alia:

(a) Adopting procedures or regulations allowing members of the general public to obtain, where appropriate, information on the organisation, functioning and decision-making processes of its public administration and, with due regard for the protection of privacy and personal data, on decisions and legal acts that concern members of the public;

(b) Simplifying administrative procedures, where appropriate, in order to facilitate public access to the competent decision-making authorities; and

Article 11

Measures relating to the judiciary and prosecution services

Article 12

Private sector

Measures to achieve these ends may include, inter alia:

(a) promoting cooperation between law enforcement agencies and relevant private entities;

(b) promoting the development of standards and procedures designed to safeguard the integrity of relevant private entities, including codes of conduct for the correct, honourable and proper performance of the activities of business and all relevant professions and the prevention of conflicts of interest, and for the promotion of the use of good commercial practices among businesses and in the contractual relations of businesses with the State;

(c) promoting transparency among private entities, including, where appropriate, measures regarding the identity of legal and natural persons involved in the establishment and management of corporate entities;

(d) preventing the misuse of procedures regulating private entities, including procedures regarding subsidies and licences granted by public authorities for commercial activities;

(e) preventing conflicts of interest by imposing restrictions, as appropriate and for a reasonable period of time, on the professional activities of former public officials or on the employment of public officials by the private sector after their resignation or retirement, where such activities or employment relate directly to the functions held or supervised by those public officials during their tenure;

(f) ensuring that private enterprises, taking into account their structure and size, have sufficient internal auditing controls to assist in preventing and detecting acts of corruption and that the accounts and required financial statements of such private enterprises are subject to appropriate auditing and certification procedures.

In order to prevent corruption, each State Party shall take such measures as may be necessary, in accordance with its domestic laws and regulations regarding the maintenance of books and records, financial statement disclosures and accounting and auditing standards, to prohibit the following acts carried out for the purpose of committing any of the offences established in accordance with this Convention:

(a) the establishment of off-the-books accounts;

(b) the making of off-the-books or inadequately identified transactions;

(d) the entry of liabilities with incorrect identification of their objects;

(e) the use of false documents; and

(f) the intentional destruction of bookkeeping documents earlier than foreseen by the law.

Article 13

Participation of society

Each State Party shall take appropriate measures, within its means and in accordance with fundamental principles of its domestic law, to promote the active participation of individuals and groups outside the public sector, such as civil society, non-governmental organisations and community-based organisations, in the prevention of and the fight against corruption and to raise public awareness regarding the existence, causes and gravity of and the threat posed by corruption. This participation should be strengthened by such measures as:

(a) enhancing the transparency of and promoting the contribution of the public to decision-making processes;

(b) ensuring that the public has effective access to information;

(c) undertaking public information activities that contribute to non-tolerance of corruption, as well as public education programmes, including school and university curricula;

(d) respecting, promoting and protecting the freedom to seek, receive, publish and disseminate information concerning corruption. That freedom may be subject to certain restrictions, but these shall only be such as are provided for by law and are necessary:

(i) for respect of the rights or reputations of others;

(ii) for the protection of national security or ordre public or of public health or morals.

Article 14

Measures to prevent money-laundering

Each State Party shall:

(a) institute a comprehensive domestic regulatory and supervisory regime for banks and non-bank financial institutions, including natural or legal persons that provide formal or informal services for the transmission of money or value and, where appropriate, other bodies particularly susceptible to moneylaundering, within its competence, in order to deter and detect all forms of money-laundering, which regime shall emphasise requirements for customer and, where appropriate, beneficial owner identification, record-keeping and the reporting of suspicious transactions;

(b) without prejudice to Article 46 of this Convention, ensure that administrative, regulatory, law enforcement and other authorities dedicated to combating money-laundering (including, where appropriate under domestic law, judicial authorities) have the ability to cooperate and exchange information at the national and international levels within the conditions prescribed by its domestic law and, to that end, shall consider the establishment of a financial intelligence unit to serve as a national centre for the collection, analysis and dissemination of information regarding potential moneylaundering.

CHAPTER III

CRIMINALISATION AND LAW ENFORCEMENT

Article 15

Bribery of national public officials

Each State Party shall adopt such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as criminal offences, when committed intentionally:

(a) the promise, offering or giving, to a public official, directly or indirectly, of an undue advantage, for the official himself or herself or another person or entity, in order that the official act or refrain from acting in the exercise of his or her official duties;

(b) the solicitation or acceptance by a public official, directly or indirectly, of an undue advantage, for the official himself or herself or another person or entity, in order that the official act or refrain from acting in the exercise of his or her official duties.

Article 16

Bribery of foreign public officials and officials of public international organisations

Each State Party shall adopt such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as a criminal offence, when committed intentionally, the promise, offering or giving to a foreign public official or an official of a public international organisation, directly or indirectly, of an undue advantage, for the official himself or herself or another person or entity, in order that the official act or refrain from acting in the exercise of his or her official duties, in order to obtain or retain business or other undue advantage in relation to the conduct of international business.

Article 17

Embezzlement, misappropriation or other diversion of property by a public official

Each State Party shall adopt such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as criminal offences, when committed intentionally, the embezzlement, misappropriation or other diversion by a public official for his or her benefit or for the benefit of another person or entity, of any property, public or private funds or securities or any other thing of value entrusted to the public official by virtue of his or her position.

Article 18

Trading in influence

Each State Party shall consider adopting such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as criminal offences, when committed intentionally:

(a) the promise, offering or giving to a public official or any other person, directly or indirectly, of an undue advantage in order that the public official or the person abuse his or her real or supposed influence with a view to obtaining from an administration or public authority of the State Party an undue advantage for the original instigator of the act or for any other person;

(b) the solicitation or acceptance by a public official or any other person, directly or indirectly, of an undue advantage for himself or herself or for another person in order that the public official or the person abuse his or her real or supposed influence with a view to obtaining from an administration or public authority of the State Party an undue advantage.

Article 21

Bribery in the private sector

Each State Party shall consider adopting such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as criminal offences, when committed intentionally in the course of economic, financial or commercial activities:

(a) The promise, offering or giving, directly or indirectly, of an undue advantage to any person who directs or works, in any capacity, for a private sector entity, for the person himself or herself or for another person, in order that he or she, in breach of his or her duties, act or refrain from acting;

(b) The solicitation or acceptance, directly or indirectly, of an undue advantage by any person who directs or works, in any capacity, for a private sector entity, for the person himself or herself or for another person, in order that he or she, in breach of his or her duties, act or refrain from acting.

Article 22

Embezzlement of property in the private sector

Each State Party shall consider adopting such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as a criminal offence, when committed intentionally in the course of economic, financial or commercial activities, embezzlement by a person who directs or works, in any capacity, in a private sector entity of any property, private funds or securities or any other thing of value entrusted to him or her by virtue of his or her position.

Article 23

Laundering of proceeds of crime

Each State Party shall adopt, in accordance with fundamental principles of its domestic law, such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as criminal offences, when committed intentionally:

(a) (i) The conversion or transfer of property, knowing that such property is the proceeds of crime, for the purpose of concealing or disguising the illicit origin of the property or of helping any person who is involved in the commission of the predicate offence to evade the legal consequences of his or her action;

(ii) The concealment or disguise of the true nature, source, location, disposition, movement or ownership of or rights with respect to property, knowing that such property is the proceeds of crime;

(b) Subject to the basic concepts of its legal system:

(i) The acquisition, possession or use of property, knowing, at the time of receipt, that such property is the proceeds of crime;

(ii) Participation in, association with or conspiracy to commit, attempts to commit and aiding, abetting, facilitating and counselling the commission of any of the offences established in accordance with this article.

For purposes of implementing or applying paragraph 1 of this article:

(a) Each State Party shall seek to apply paragraph 1 of this article to the widest range of predicate offences;

(b) Each State Party shall include as predicate offences at a minimum a comprehensive range of criminal offences established in accordance with this Convention;

(c) For the purposes of subparagraph (b) above, predicate offences shall include offences committed both within and outside the jurisdiction of the State Party in question. However, offences committed outside the jurisdiction of a State Party shall constitute predicate offences only when the relevant conduct is a criminal offence under the domestic law of the State where it is committed and would be a criminal offence under the domestic law of the State Party implementing or applying this article had it been committed there;

(d) Each State Party shall furnish copies of its laws that give effect to this article and of any subsequent changes to such laws or a description thereof to the Secretary-General of the United Nations;

(e) If required by fundamental principles of the domestic law of a State Party, it may be provided that the offences set forth in paragraph 1 of this Article do not apply to the persons who committed the predicate offence.

Article 24

Concealment

Without prejudice to the provisions of article 23 of this Convention, each State Party shall consider adopting such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as a criminal offence, when committed intentionally after the commission of any of the offences established in accordance with this Convention without having participated in such offences, the concealment or continued retention of property when the person involved knows that such property is the result of any of the offences established in accordance with this Convention.

Article 25

Obstruction of justice

Each State Party shall adopt such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as criminal offences, when committed intentionally:

(a) The use of physical force, threats or intimidation or the promise, offering or giving of an undue advantage to induce false testimony or to interfere in the giving of testimony or the production of evidence in a proceeding in relation to the commission of offences established in accordance with this Convention;

(b) The use of physical force, threats or intimidation to interfere with the exercise of official duties by a justice or law enforcement official in relation to the commission of offences established in accordance with this Convention. Nothing in this subparagraph shall prejudice the right of States Parties to have legislation that protects other categories of public official.

Article 26

Liability of legal persons

Article 27

Participation and attempt

Article 30

Prosecution, adjudication and sanctions

Where warranted by the gravity of the offence, each State Party, to the extent consistent with the fundamental principles of its legal system, shall consider establishing procedures for the disqualification, by court order or any other appropriate means, for a period of time determined by its domestic law, of persons convicted of offences established in accordance with this Convention from:

(a) Holding public office; and

(b) Holding office in an enterprise owned in whole or in part by the State.

Article 31

Freezing, seizure and confiscation

Article 32

Protection of witnesses, experts and victims

The measures envisaged in paragraph 1 of this Article may include, inter alia, without prejudice to the rights of the defendant, including the right to due process:

(a) establishing procedures for the physical protection of such persons, such as, to the extent necessary and feasible, relocating them and permitting, where appropriate, non-disclosure or limitations on the disclosure of information concerning the identity and whereabouts of such persons;

(b) providing evidentiary rules to permit witnesses and experts to give testimony in a manner that ensures the safety of such persons, such as permitting testimony to be given through the use of communications technology such as video or other adequate means.

Article 36

Specialised authorities

Each State Party shall, in accordance with the fundamental principles of its legal system, ensure the existence of a body or bodies or persons specialised in combating corruption through law enforcement. Such body or bodies or persons shall be granted the necessary independence, in accordance with the fundamental principles of the legal system of the State Party, to be able to carry out their functions effectively and without any undue influence. Such persons or staff of such body or bodies should have the appropriate training and resources to carry out their tasks.

Article 37

Cooperation with law enforcement authorities

Article 38

Cooperation between national authorities

Each State Party shall take such measures as may be necessary to encourage, in accordance with its domestic law, cooperation between, on the one hand, its public authorities, as well as its public officials, and, on the other hand, its authorities responsible for investigating and prosecuting criminal offences. Such cooperation may include:

(a) Informing the latter authorities, on their own initiative, where there are reasonable grounds to believe that any of the offences established in accordance with Articles 15, 21 and 23 of this Convention has been committed; or

(b) Providing, upon request, to the latter authorities all necessary information.

Article 39

Cooperation between national authorities and the private sector

Article 42

Jurisdiction

Subject to Article 4 of this Convention, a State Party may also establish its jurisdiction over any such offence when:

(a) The offence is committed against a national of that State Party; or

(b) The offence is committed by a national of that State Party or a stateless person who has his or her habitual residence in its territory; or

(c) The offence is one of those established in accordance with Article 23, paragraph 1(b)(ii), of this Convention and is committed outside its territory with a view to the commission of an offence established in accordance with Article 23, paragraph 1(a)(i) or (ii) or (b)(i), of this Convention within its territory; or

(d) The offence is committed against the State Party.

CHAPTER IV

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

Article 43

International cooperation

Article 44

Extradition

Each of the offences to which this Article applies shall be deemed to be included as an extraditable offence in any extradition treaty existing between States Parties. States Parties undertake to include such offences as extraditable offences in every extradition treaty to be concluded between them. A State Party whose law so permits, in case it uses this Convention as the basis for extradition, shall not consider any of the offences established in accordance with this Convention to be a political offence.

A State Party that makes extradition conditional on the existence of a treaty shall:

(a) At the time of deposit of its instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval of or accession to this Convention, inform the Secretary-General of the United Nations whether it will take this Convention as the legal basis for cooperation on extradition with other States Parties to this Convention; and

(b) If it does not take this Convention as the legal basis for cooperation on extradition, seek, where appropriate, to conclude treaties on extradition with other States Parties to this Convention in order to implement this Article.

11.

A State Party in whose territory an alleged offender is found, if it does not extradite such person in respect of an offence to which this Article applies solely on the ground that he or she is one of its nationals, shall, at the request of the State Party seeking extradition, be obliged to submit the case without undue delay to its competent authorities for the purpose of prosecution. Those authorities shall take their decision and conduct their proceedings in the same manner as in the case of any other offence of a grave nature under the domestic law of that State Party. The States Parties concerned shall cooperate with each other, in particular on procedural and evidentiary aspects, to ensure the efficiency of such prosecution.

12.

Whenever a State Party is permitted under its domestic law to extradite or otherwise surrender one of its nationals only upon the condition that the person will be returned to that State Party to serve the sentence imposed as a result of the trial or proceedings for which the extradition or surrender of the person was sought and that State Party and the State Party seeking the extradition of the person agree with this option and other terms that they may deem appropriate, such conditional extradition or surrender shall be sufficient to discharge the obligation set forth in paragraph 11 of this Article.

Article 46

Mutual legal assistance

Mutual legal assistance to be afforded in accordance with this Article may be requested for any of the following purposes:

(a) taking evidence or statements from persons;

(b) effecting service of judicial documents;

(d) examining objects and sites;

(e) providing information, evidentiary items and expert evaluations;

(f) providing originals or certified copies of relevant documents and records, including government, bank, financial, corporate or business records;

(g) identifying or tracing proceeds of crime, property, instrumentalities or other things for evidentiary purposes;

(h) facilitating the voluntary appearance of persons in the requesting State Party;

(i) any other type of assistance that is not contrary to the domestic law of the requested State Party;

(j) identifying, freezing and tracing proceeds of crime in accordance with the provisions of Chapter V of this Convention;

(k) the recovery of assets, in accordance with the provisions of Chapter V of this Convention.

The transmission of information pursuant to paragraph 4 of this Article shall be without prejudice to inquiries and criminal proceedings in the State of the competent authorities providing the information. The competent authorities receiving the information shall comply with a request that said information remain confidential, even temporarily, or with restrictions on its use. However, this shall not prevent the receiving State Party from disclosing in its proceedings information that is exculpatory to an accused person. In such a case, the receiving State Party shall notify the transmitting State Party prior to the disclosure and, if so requested, consult with the transmitting State Party. If, in an exceptional case, advance notice is not possible, the receiving State Party shall inform the transmitting State Party of the disclosure without delay.

(a) A requested State Party, in responding to a request for assistance pursuant to this Article in the absence of dual criminality, shall take into account the purposes of this Convention, as set forth in Article 1;

(b) States Parties may decline to render assistance pursuant to this Article on the ground of absence of dual criminality. However, a requested State Party shall, where consistent with the basic concepts of its legal system, render assistance that does not involve coercive action. Such assistance may be refused when requests involve matters of a de minimis nature or matters for which the cooperation or assistance sought is available under other provisions of this Convention;

(c) each State Party may consider adopting such measures as may be necessary to enable it to provide a wider scope of assistance pursuant to this Article in the absence of dual criminality.

10.

A person who is being detained or is serving a sentence in the territory of one State Party whose presence in another State Party is requested for purposes of identification, testimony or otherwise providing assistance in obtaining evidence for investigations, prosecutions or judicial proceedings in relation to offences covered by this Convention may be transferred if the following conditions are met:

(a) the person freely gives his or her informed consent;

(b) the competent authorities of both States Parties agree, subject to such conditions as those States Parties may deem appropriate.

11.

For the purposes of paragraph 10 of this Article:

(a) the State Party to which the person is transferred shall have the authority and obligation to keep the person transferred in custody, unless otherwise requested or authorised by the State Party from which the person was transferred;

(b) the State Party to which the person is transferred shall without delay implement its obligation to return the person to the custody of the State Party from which the person was transferred as agreed beforehand, or as otherwise agreed, by the competent authorities of both States Parties;

(c) the State Party to which the person is transferred shall not require the State Party from which the person was transferred to initiate extradition proceedings for the return of the person;

(d) the person transferred shall receive credit for service of the sentence being served in the State from which he or she was transferred for time spent in the custody of the State Party to which he or she was transferred.

12.

Unless the State Party from which a person is to be transferred in accordance with paragraphs 10 and 11 of this Article so agrees, that person, whatever his or her nationality, shall not be prosecuted, detained, punished or subjected to any other restriction of his or her personal liberty in the territory of the State to which that person is transferred in respect of acts, omissions or convictions prior to his or her departure from the territory of the State from which he or she was transferred.

13.

Each State Party shall designate a central authority that shall have the responsibility and power to receive requests for mutual legal assistance and either to execute them or to transmit them to the competent authorities for execution. Where a State Party has a special region or territory with a separate system of mutual legal assistance, it may designate a distinct central authority that shall have the same function for that region or territory. Central authorities shall ensure the speedy and proper execution or transmission of the requests received. Where the central authority transmits the request to a competent authority for execution, it shall encourage the speedy and proper execution of the request by the competent authority. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall be notified of the central authority designated for this purpose at the time each State Party deposits its instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval of or accession to this Convention. Requests for mutual legal assistance and any communication related thereto shall be transmitted to the central authorities designated by the States Parties. This requirement shall be without prejudice to the right of a State Party to require that such requests and communications be addressed to it through diplomatic channels and, in urgent circumstances, where the States Parties agree, through the International Criminal Police Organisation, if possible.

14.

Requests shall be made in writing or, where possible, by any means capable of producing a written record, in a language acceptable to the requested State Party, under conditions allowing that State Party to establish authenticity. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall be notified of the language or languages acceptable to each State Party at the time it deposits its instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval of or accession to this Convention. In urgent circumstances and where agreed by the States Parties, requests may be made orally but shall be confirmed in writing forthwith.

15.

A request for mutual legal assistance shall contain:

(a) the identity of the authority making the request;

(b) the subject matter and nature of the investigation, prosecution or judicial proceeding to which the request relates and the name and functions of the authority conducting the investigation, prosecution or judicial proceeding;

(d) a description of the assistance sought and details of any particular procedure that the requesting State Party wishes to be followed;

(e) where possible, the identity, location and nationality of any person concerned; and

(f) the purpose for which the evidence, information or action is sought.

18.

Wherever possible and consistent with fundamental principles of domestic law, when an individual is in the territory of a State Party and has to be heard as a witness or expert by the judicial authorities of another State Party, the first State Party may, at the request of the other, permit the hearing to take place by video conference if it is not possible or desirable for the individual in question to appear in person in the territory of the requesting State Party. States Parties may agree that the hearing shall be conducted by a judicial authority of the requesting State Party and attended by a judicial authority of the requested State Party.

19.

The requesting State Party shall not transmit or use information or evidence furnished by the requested State Party for investigations, prosecutions or judicial proceedings other than those stated in the request without the prior consent of the requested State Party. Nothing in this paragraph shall prevent the requesting State Party from disclosing in its proceedings information or evidence that is exculpatory to an accused person. In the latter case, the requesting State Party shall notify the requested State Party prior to the disclosure and, if so requested, consult with the requested State Party. If, in an exceptional case, advance notice is not possible, the requesting State Party shall inform the requested State Party of the disclosure without delay.

21.

Mutual legal assistance may be refused:

(a) if the request is not made in conformity with the provisions of this Article;

(b) if the requested State Party considers that execution of the request is likely to prejudice its sovereignty, security, ordre public or other essential interests;

(c) if the authorities of the requested State Party would be prohibited by its domestic law from carrying out the action requested with regard to any similar offence, had it been subject to investigation, prosecution or judicial proceedings under their own jurisdiction;

(d) if it would be contrary to the legal system of the requested State Party relating to mutual legal assistance for the request to be granted.

24.

The requested State Party shall execute the request for mutual legal assistance as soon as possible and shall take as full account as possible of any deadlines suggested by the requesting State Party and for which reasons are given, preferably in the request. The requesting State Party may make reasonable requests for information on the status and progress of measures taken by the requested State Party to satisfy its request.

The requested State Party shall respond to reasonable requests by the requesting State Party on the status, and progress in its handling, of the request. The requesting State Party shall promptly inform the requested State Party when the assistance sought is no longer required.

27.

Without prejudice to the application of paragraph 12 of this Article, a witness, expert or other person who, at the request of the requesting State Party, consents to give evidence in a proceeding or to assist in an investigation, prosecution or judicial proceeding in the territory of the requesting State Party shall not be prosecuted, detained, punished or subjected to any other restriction of his or her personal liberty in that territory in respect of acts, omissions or convictions prior to his or her departure from the territory of the requested State Party. Such safe conduct shall cease when the witness, expert or other person having had, for a period of fifteen consecutive days or for any period agreed upon by the States Parties from the date on which he or she has been officially informed that his or her presence is no longer required by the judicial authorities, an opportunity of leaving, has nevertheless remained voluntarily in the territory of the requesting State Party or, having left it, has returned of his or her own free will.

29.

The requested State Party:

(a) shall provide to the requesting State Party copies of government records, documents or information in its possession that under its domestic law are available to the general public;

(b) may, at its discretion, provide to the requesting State Party in whole, in part or subject to such conditions as it deems appropriate, copies of any government records, documents or information in its possession that under its domestic law are not available to the general public.

Article 48

Law enforcement cooperation

States Parties shall cooperate closely with one another, consistent with their respective domestic legal and administrative systems, to enhance the effectiveness of law enforcement action to combat the offences covered by this Convention. States Parties shall, in particular, take effective measures:

(a) to enhance and, where necessary, to establish channels of communication between their competent authorities, agencies and services in order to facilitate the secure and rapid exchange of information concerning all aspects of the offences covered by this Convention, including, if the States Parties concerned deem it appropriate, links with other criminal activities;

(b) to cooperate with other States Parties in conducting inquiries with respect to offences covered by this Convention concerning:

(i) the identity, whereabouts and activities of persons suspected of involvement in such offences or the location of other persons concerned;

(ii) the movement of proceeds of crime or property derived from the commission of such offences;

(iii) the movement of property, equipment or other instrumentalities used or intended for use in the commission of such offences;

(d) to exchange, where appropriate, information with other States Parties concerning specific means and methods used to commit offences covered by this Convention, including the use of false identities, forged, altered or false documents and other means of concealing activities;

(e) to facilitate effective coordination between their competent authorities, agencies and services and to promote the exchange of personnel and other experts, including, subject to bilateral agreements or arrangements between the States Parties concerned, the posting of liaison officers;

(f) to exchange information and coordinate administrative and other measures taken as appropriate for the purpose of early identification of the offences covered by this Convention.

With a view to giving effect to this Convention, States Parties shall consider entering into bilateral or multilateral agreements or arrangements on direct cooperation between their law enforcement agencies and, where such agreements or arrangements already exist, amending them. In the absence of such agreements or arrangements between the States Parties concerned, the States Parties may consider this Convention to be the basis for mutual law enforcement cooperation in respect of the offences covered by this Convention. Whenever appropriate, States Parties shall make full use of agreements or arrangements, including international or regional organisations, to enhance the cooperation between their law enforcement agencies.

Article 49

Joint investigations

States Parties shall consider concluding bilateral or multilateral agreements or arrangements whereby, in relation to matters that are the subject of investigations, prosecutions or judicial proceedings in one or more States, the competent authorities concerned may establish joint investigative bodies. In the absence of such agreements or arrangements, joint investigations may be undertaken by agreement on a case-by-case basis. The States Parties involved shall ensure that the sovereignty of the State Party in whose territory such investigation is to take place is fully respected.

Article 50

Special investigative techniques

In order to combat corruption effectively, each State Party shall, to the extent permitted by the basic principles of its domestic legal system and in accordance with the conditions prescribed by its domestic law, take such measures as may be necessary, within its means, to allow for the appropriate use by its competent authorities of controlled delivery and, where it deems appropriate, other special investigative techniques, such as electronic or other forms of surveillance and undercover operations, within its territory, and to allow for the admissibility in court of evidence derived therefrom.

For the purpose of investigating the offences covered by this Convention, States Parties are encouraged to conclude, when necessary, appropriate bilateral or multilateral agreements or arrangements for using such special investigative techniques in the context of cooperation at the international level. Such agreements or arrangements shall be concluded and implemented in full compliance with the principle of sovereign equality of States and shall be carried out strictly in accordance with the terms of those agreements or arrangements.

CHAPTER V

ASSET RECOVERY

Article 52

Prevention and detection of transfers of proceeds of crime

Without prejudice to Article 14 of this Convention, each State Party shall take such measures as may be necessary, in accordance with its domestic law, to require financial institutions within its jurisdiction to verify the identity of customers, to take reasonable steps to determine the identity of beneficial owners of funds deposited into high-value accounts and to conduct enhanced scrutiny of accounts sought or maintained by or on behalf of individuals who are, or have been, entrusted with prominent public functions and their family members and close associates. Such enhanced scrutiny shall be reasonably designed to detect suspicious transactions for the purpose of reporting to competent authorities and should not be so construed as to discourage or prohibit financial institutions from doing business with any legitimate customer.

In order to facilitate implementation of the measures provided for in paragraph 1 of this Article, each State Party, in accordance with its domestic law and inspired by relevant initiatives of regional, interregional and multilateral organisations against money-laundering, shall:

(a) Issue advisories regarding the types of natural or legal person to whose accounts financial institutions within its jurisdiction will be expected to apply enhanced scrutiny, the types of accounts and transactions to which to pay particular attention and appropriate account-opening, maintenance and record-keeping measures to take concerning such accounts; and

(b) Where appropriate, notify financial institutions within its jurisdiction, at the request of another State Party or on its own initiative, of the identity of particular natural or legal persons to whose accounts such institutions will be expected to apply enhanced scrutiny, in addition to those whom the financial institutions may otherwise identify.

With the aim of preventing and detecting transfers of proceeds of offences established in accordance with this Convention, each State Party shall implement appropriate and effective measures to prevent, with the help of its regulatory and oversight bodies, the establishment of banks that have no physical presence and that are not affiliated with a regulated financial group. Moreover, States Parties may consider requiring their financial institutions to refuse to enter into or continue a correspondent banking relationship with such institutions and to guard against establishing relations with foreign financial institutions that permit their accounts to be used by banks that have no physical presence and that are not affiliated with a regulated financial group.

Each State Party shall consider establishing, in accordance with its domestic law, effective financial disclosure systems for appropriate public officials and shall provide for appropriate sanctions for noncompliance. Each State Party shall also consider taking such measures as may be necessary to permit its competent authorities to share that information with the competent authorities in other States Parties when necessary to investigate, claim and recover proceeds of offences established in accordance with this Convention.

Article 53

Measures for direct recovery of property

Each State Party shall, in accordance with its domestic law:

(a) Take such measures as may be necessary to permit another State Party to initiate civil action in its courts to establish title to or ownership of property acquired through the commission of an offence established in accordance with this Convention;

(b) Take such measures as may be necessary to permit its courts to order those who have committed offences established in accordance with this Convention to pay compensation or damages to another State Party that has been harmed by such offences; and

(c) Take such measures as may be necessary to permit its courts or competent authorities, when having to decide on confiscation, to recognise another State Party's claim as a legitimate owner of property acquired through the commission of an offence established in accordance with this Convention.

Article 54

Mechanisms for recovery of property through international cooperation in confiscation

Each State Party, in order to provide mutual legal assistance pursuant to Article 55 of this Convention with respect to property acquired through or involved in the commission of an offence established in accordance with this Convention, shall, in accordance with its domestic law:

(a) Take such measures as may be necessary to permit its competent authorities to give effect to an order of confiscation issued by a court of another State Party;

(b) Take such measures as may be necessary to permit its competent authorities, where they have jurisdiction, to order the confiscation of such property of foreign origin by adjudication of an offence of money-laundering or such other offence as may be within its jurisdiction or by other procedures authorised under its domestic law; and

(c) Consider taking such measures as may be necessary to allow confiscation of such property without a criminal conviction in cases in which the offender cannot be prosecuted by reason of death, flight or absence or in other appropriate cases.

Each State Party, in order to provide mutual legal assistance upon a request made pursuant to paragraph 2 of Article 55 of this Convention, shall, in accordance with its domestic law:

(a) Take such measures as may be necessary to permit its competent authorities to freeze or seize property upon a freezing or seizure order issued by a court or competent authority of a requesting State Party that provides a reasonable basis for the requested State Party to believe that there are sufficient grounds for taking such actions and that the property would eventually be subject to an order of confiscation for purposes of paragraph 1(a) of this Article;

(b) Take such measures as may be necessary to permit its competent authorities to freeze or seize property upon a request that provides a reasonable basis for the requested State Party to believe that there are sufficient grounds for taking such actions and that the property would eventually be subject to an order of confiscation for purposes of paragraph 1(a) of this Article; and

(c) Consider taking additional measures to permit its competent authorities to preserve property for confiscation, such as on the basis of a foreign arrest or criminal charge related to the acquisition of such property.

Article 55

International cooperation for purposes of confiscation

A State Party that has received a request from another State Party having jurisdiction over an offence established in accordance with this Convention for confiscation of proceeds of crime, property, equipment or other instrumentalities referred to in Article 31(1) of this Convention situated in its territory shall, to the greatest extent possible within its domestic legal system:

(a) Submit the request to its competent authorities for the purpose of obtaining an order of confiscation and, if such an order is granted, give effect to it; or

(b) Submit to its competent authorities, with a view to giving effect to it to the extent requested, an order of confiscation issued by a court in the territory of the requesting State Party in accordance with Articles 31(1) and 54(1)(a) of this Convention insofar as it relates to proceeds of crime, property, equipment or other instrumentalities referred to in Article 31, paragraph 1, situated in the territory of the requested State Party.

Following a request made by another State Party having jurisdiction over an offence established in accordance with this Convention, the requested State Party shall take measures to identify, trace and freeze or seize proceeds of crime, property, equipment or other instrumentalities referred to in Article 31(1) of this Convention for the purpose of eventual confiscation to be ordered either by the requesting State Party or, pursuant to a request under paragraph 1 of this Article, by the requested State Party.

The provisions of Article 46 of this Convention are applicable, mutatis mutandis, to this Article. In addition to the information specified in Article 46(15) requests made pursuant to this Article shall contain:

(a) In the case of a request pertaining to paragraph 1(a) of this Article, a description of the property to be confiscated, including, to the extent possible, the location and, where relevant, the estimated value of the property and a statement of the facts relied upon by the requesting State Party sufficient to enable the requested State Party to seek the order under its domestic law;

(b) In the case of a request pertaining to paragraph 1(b) of this Article, a legally admissible copy of an order of confiscation upon which the request is based issued by the requesting State Party, a statement of the facts and information as to the extent to which execution of the order is requested, a statement specifying the measures taken by the requesting State Party to provide adequate notification to bona fide third parties and to ensure due process and a statement that the confiscation order is final;

(c) In the case of a request pertaining to paragraph 2 of this Article, a statement of the facts relied upon by the requesting State Party and a description of the actions requested and, where available, a legally admissible copy of an order on which the request is based.

Article 56

Special cooperation

Without prejudice to its domestic law, each State Party shall endeavour to take measures to permit it to forward, without prejudice to its own investigations, prosecutions or judicial proceedings, information on proceeds of offences established in accordance with this Convention to another State Party without prior request, when it considers that the disclosure of such information might assist the receiving State Party in initiating or carrying out investigations, prosecutions or judicial proceedings or might lead to a request by that State Party under this chapter of the Convention.

Article 57

Return and disposal of assets

In accordance with Articles 46 and 55 of this Convention and paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article, the requested State Party shall:

(a) In the case of embezzlement of public funds or of laundering of embezzled public funds as referred to in Articles 17 and 23 of this Convention, when confiscation was executed in accordance with Article 55 and on the basis of a final judgement in the requesting State Party, a requirement that can be waived by the requested State Party, return the confiscated property to the requesting State Party;

(b) In the case of proceeds of any other offence covered by this Convention, when the confiscation was executed in accordance with Article 55 of this Convention and on the basis of a final judgement in the requesting State Party, a requirement that can be waived by the requested State Party, return the confiscated property to the requesting State Party, when the requesting State Party reasonably establishes its prior ownership of such confiscated property to the requested State Party or when the requested State Party recognises damage to the requesting State Party as a basis for returning the confiscated property;

(c) In all other cases, give priority consideration to returning confiscated property to the requesting State Party, returning such property to its prior legitimate owners or compensating the victims of the crime.

CHAPTER VI

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND INFORMATION EXCHANGE

Article 60

Training and technical assistance

Each State Party shall, to the extent necessary, initiate, develop or improve specific training programmes for its personnel responsible for preventing and combating corruption. Such training programmes could deal, inter alia, with the following areas:

(a) effective measures to prevent, detect, investigate, punish and control corruption, including the use of evidence-gathering and investigative methods;

(b) building capacity in the development and planning of strategic anticorruption policy;

(c) training competent authorities in the preparation of requests for mutual legal assistance that meet the requirements of this Convention;

(d) evaluation and strengthening of institutions, public service management and the management of public finances, including public procurement, and the private sector;

(e) preventing and combating the transfer of proceeds of offences established in accordance with this Convention and recovering such proceeds;

(f) detecting and freezing of the transfer of proceeds of offences established in accordance with this Convention;

(g) surveillance of the movement of proceeds of offences established in accordance with this Convention and of the methods used to transfer, conceal or disguise such proceeds;

(h) appropriate and efficient legal and administrative mechanisms and methods for facilitating the return of proceeds of offences established in accordance with this Convention;

(i) methods used in protecting victims and witnesses who cooperate with judicial authorities; and

(j) training in national and international regulations and in languages.

States Parties shall, according to their capacity, consider affording one another the widest measure of technical assistance, especially for the benefit of developing countries, in their respective plans and programmes to combat corruption, including material support and training in the areas referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article, and training and assistance and the mutual exchange of relevant experience and specialised knowledge, which will facilitate international cooperation between States Parties in the areas of extradition and mutual legal assistance.

Article 61

Collection, exchange and analysis of information on corruption

Article 62

Other measures: implementation of the Convention through economic development and technical assistance

States Parties shall make concrete efforts to the extent possible and in coordination with each other, as well as with international and regional organisations:

(a) To enhance their cooperation at various levels with developing countries, with a view to strengthening the capacity of the latter to prevent and combat corruption;

(b) To enhance financial and material assistance to support the efforts of developing countries to prevent and fight corruption effectively and to help them implement this Convention successfully;

(c) To provide technical assistance to developing countries and countries with economies in transition to assist them in meeting their needs for the implementation of this Convention. To that end, States Parties shall endeavour to make adequate and regular voluntary contributions to an account specifically designated for that purpose in a United Nations funding mechanism. States Parties may also give special consideration, in accordance with their domestic law and the provisions of this Convention, to contributing to that account a percentage of the money or of the corresponding value of proceeds of crime or property confiscated in accordance with the provisions of this Convention;

(d) To encourage and persuade other States and financial institutions as appropriate to join them in efforts in accordance with this Article, in particular by providing more training programmes and modern equipment to developing countries in order to assist them in achieving the objectives of this Convention.

CHAPTER VII

MECHANISMS FOR IMPLEMENTATION

Article 63

Conference of the States Parties to the Convention

The Conference of the States Parties shall agree upon activities, procedures and methods of work to achieve the objectives set forth in paragraph 1 of this Article, including:

(a) Facilitating activities by States Parties under Articles 60 and 62 and Chapters II to V of this Convention, including by encouraging the mobilisation of voluntary contributions;

(b) Facilitating the exchange of information among States Parties on patterns and trends in corruption and on successful practices for preventing and combating it and for the return of proceeds of crime, through, inter alia, the publication of relevant information as mentioned in this Article;

(d) Making appropriate use of relevant information produced by other international and regional mechanisms for combating and preventing corruption in order to avoid unnecessary duplication of work;

(e) Reviewing periodically the implementation of this Convention by its States Parties;

(f) Making recommendations to improve this Convention and its implementation;

(g) Taking note of the technical assistance requirements of States Parties with regard to the implementation of this Convention and recommending any action it may deem necessary in that respect.

Each State Party shall provide the Conference of the States Parties with information on its programmes, plans and practices, as well as on legislative and administrative measures to implement this Convention, as required by the Conference of the States Parties. The Conference of the States Parties shall examine the most effective way of receiving and acting upon information, including, inter alia, information received from States Parties and from competent international organisations. Inputs received from relevant non-governmental organisations duly accredited in accordance with procedures to be decided upon by the Conference of the States Parties may also be considered.

Article 64

Secretariat

The Secretariat shall:

(a) Assist the Conference of the States Parties in carrying out the activities set forth in Article 63 of this Convention and make arrangements and provide the necessary services for the sessions of the Conference of the States Parties;

(b) Upon request, assist States Parties in providing information to the Conference of the States Parties as envisaged in Article 63, paragraphs 5 and 6, of this Convention; and

CHAPTER VIII

FINAL PROVISIONS

Article 66

Settlement of disputes

Any dispute between two or more States Parties concerning the interpretation or application of this Convention that cannot be settled through negotiation within a reasonable time shall, at the request of one of those States Parties, be submitted to arbitration. If, six months after the date of the request for arbitration, those States Parties are unable to agree on the organisation of the arbitration, any one of those States Parties may refer the dispute to the International Court of Justice by request in accordance with the Statute of the Court.

Article 67

Signature, ratification, acceptance, approval and accession

This Convention is subject to ratification, acceptance or approval. Instruments of ratification, acceptance or approval shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. A regional economic integration organisation may deposit its instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval if at least one of its Member States has done likewise. In that instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval, such organisation shall declare the extent of its competence with respect to the matters governed by this Convention. Such organisation shall also inform the depositary of any relevant modification in the extent of its competence.

This Convention is open for accession by any State or any regional economic integration organisation of which at least one Member State is a Party to this Convention. Instruments of accession shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. At the time of its accession, a regional economic integration organisation shall declare the extent of its competence with respect to matters governed by this Convention. Such organisation shall also inform the depositary of any relevant modification in the extent of its competence.

Article 68

Entry into force

Article 69

Amendment

After the expiry of five years from the entry into force of this Convention, a State Party may propose an amendment and transmit it to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, who shall thereupon communicate the proposed amendment to the States Parties and to the Conference of the States Parties to the Convention for the purpose of considering and deciding on the proposal. The Conference of the States Parties shall make every effort to achieve consensus on each amendment. If all efforts at consensus have been exhausted and no agreement has been reached, the amendment shall, as a last resort, require for its adoption a two-thirds majority vote of the States Parties present and voting at the meeting of the Conference of the States Parties.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned plenipotentiaries, being duly authorised thereto by their respective Governments, have signed this Convention.

______

⁽¹⁾ See E/1996/99.

⁽²⁾ OJ C 195, 25.6.1997.

⁽³⁾ See Corruption and Integrity Improvement Initiatives in Developing Countries (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.98.III.B.18).

⁽⁴⁾ Council of Europe, European Treaty Series, No 173.

⁽⁵⁾ Ibid., No 174.

⁽⁶⁾ General Assembly resolution 55/25, Annex I.

Deklaracja dotycząca kompetencji Wspólnoty Europejskiej w odniesieniu do spraw uregulowanych w Konwencji Narodów Zjednoczonych przeciwko korupcji

Artykuł 67 ust. 3 Konwencji Narodów Zjednoczonych przeciwko korupcji stanowi, że wraz z instrumentem ratyfikacji, przyjęcia lub zatwierdzenia regionalna organizacja integracji ekonomicznej składa deklarację na temat zakresu swoich kompetencji.

1. Wspólnota zwraca uwagę na fakt, że do celów przedmiotowej konwencji termin "państwa strony" stosuje się do regionalnych organizacji integracji ekonomicznej w zakresie ich kompetencji. W zakresie, w jakim postanowienia konwencji dotyczą przepisów prawa wspólnotowego, Wspólnota Europejska ma wyłączną kompetencję w zakresie przyjęcia takich zobowiązań w odniesieniu do własnej administracji publicznej. W związku z tym Wspólnota oświadcza, że na mocy Traktatu ustanawiającego Wspólnotę Europejską ma ona kompetencje w następujących dziedzinach:

– rozwijanie, wdrażanie i utrzymywanie polityk i praktyk zapobiegania korupcji,

– powoływanie organu lub organów w zakresie zapobiegania korupcji (w tym Europejskiego Urzędu ds. Zwalczania Nadużyć Finansowych) oraz zapewnianie obywatelom sposobów informowania takiego organu lub takich organów o przypadkach, które mogą świadczyć o korupcji,

– regulacja zatrudniania pracowników, warunków pracy, wynagradzania, szkoleń itd. w odniesieniu do urzędników niewybranych, na podstawie regulaminu pracowniczego i przepisów wykonawczych do tego regulaminu,

– propagowanie przejrzystości i unikanie konfliktu interesów przy tworzeniu systemów Wspólnoty Europejskiej regulujących wykonywanie obowiązków powierzonych urzędnikom publicznym,

– opracowywanie i wprowadzanie w życie kodeksów postępowania,

– zapewnianie odpowiednich standardów w odniesieniu do zamówień publicznych i zarządzania finansami publicznymi,

– poprawa przejrzystości własnej organizacji Wspólnoty Europejskiej, jej funkcjonowania i procesu decyzyjnego,

– przy należytym uwzględnieniu niezależności organów sądowych Wspólnot Europejskich, opracowywanie, wdrażanie i utrzymywanie środków mających na celu umocnienie nieprzekupności tych organów i zapobieganie występowaniu okoliczności sprzyjających korupcji.

2. Wspólnota podkreśla również, że do jej kompetencji należy zapewnienie właściwego funkcjonowaniem rynku wewnętrznego obejmującego obszar bez granic wewnętrznych, w którym jest zapewniony swobodny przepływ towarów, kapitału i usług, zgodnie z postanowieniami Traktatu ustanawiającego Wspólnotę Europejską. W tym celu Wspólnota przyjęła środki, które:

– zapewniają przejrzystość i równy dostęp wszystkich kandydatów do zamówień publicznych i rynków mających znaczenie dla Wspólnoty, co pomaga zapobiegać korupcji,

– zapewniają odpowiednie standardy księgowości i audytu mających znaczenie dla Wspólnoty,

– zapobiegają zjawisku prania pieniędzy, co nie obejmuje jednak środków dotyczących współpracy między organami sądowymi a organami ścigania.

W przypadku przyjęcia środków podejmowanie zobowiązań zewnętrznych mających wpływ na te środki lub zmieniające ich zakres zastosowania, z udziałem państw trzecich lub właściwych organizacji międzynarodowych, należy do zadań samej Wspólnoty.

3. Wspólnotowa polityka w dziedzinie współpracy na rzecz rozwoju, a także współpraca z innymi krajami trzecimi, uzupełnia polityki prowadzone przez państwa członkowskie w celu wsparcia krajów partnerskich we wprowadzaniu w życie Konwencji Narodów Zjednoczonych przeciwko korupcji i obejmuje przepisy służące zwalczaniu korupcji.

4. Zakres i wykonywanie kompetencji Wspólnoty podlegają z natury ciągłym zmianom, Wspólnota będzie zatem w miarę potrzeb uzupełniać lub zmieniać niniejszą deklarację zgodnie z art. 67 ust. 3.

5. Konwencja Narodów Zjednoczonych przeciwko korupcji ma zastosowanie, w odniesieniu do kompetencji Wspólnoty, do terytoriów, na których obowiązuje Traktat ustanawiający Wspólnotę Europejską i na warunkach określonych w tym Traktacie, w szczególności w jego art. 299.

Zgodnie z art. 299 Traktatu deklaracja ta nie ma zastosowania do terytoriów państw członkowskich, na których Traktat nie obowiązuje, oraz pozostaje bez uszczerbku dla wszelkich aktów i stanowisk, które mogą zostać przyjęte na podstawie konwencji przez zainteresowane państwa członkowskie w imieniu oraz w interesie tych terytoriów.

OŚWIADCZENIE

W odniesieniu do art. 66 ust. 2 Wspólnota podkreśla, że zgodnie z art. 34 ust. 1 Statutu Międzynarodowego Trybunału Sprawiedliwości stronami przed tym trybunałem mogą być jedynie państwa. W związku z tym, zgodnie z art. 66 ust. 2 konwencji, spory, w których stroną jest Wspólnota, mogą być rozstrzygane jedynie na drodze arbitrażu.

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kk/pap 12.12.2024

ZUS: Renta wdowia - wnioski od stycznia 2025 r.

Od Nowego Roku będzie można składać wnioski o tzw. rentę wdowią, która dotyczy ustalenia zbiegu świadczeń z rentą rodzinną. Renta wdowia jest przeznaczona dla wdów i wdowców, którzy mają prawo do co najmniej dwóch świadczeń emerytalno-rentowych, z których jedno stanowi renta rodzinna po zmarłym małżonku. Aby móc ją pobierać, należy jednak spełnić określone warunki.

Grażyna J. Leśniak 20.11.2024

Zmiany w składce zdrowotnej od 1 stycznia 2026 r. Rząd przedstawił założenia

Przedsiębiorcy rozliczający się według zasad ogólnych i skali podatkowej oraz liniowcy będą od 1 stycznia 2026 r. płacić składkę zdrowotną w wysokości 9 proc. od 75 proc. minimalnego wynagrodzenia, jeśli będą osiągali w danym miesiącu dochód do wysokości 1,5-krotności przeciętnego wynagrodzenia w sektorze przedsiębiorstw w czwartym kwartale roku poprzedniego, włącznie z wypłatami z zysku, ogłaszanego przez prezesa GUS. Będzie też dodatkowa składka w wysokości 4,9 proc. od nadwyżki ponad 1,5-krotność przeciętnego wynagrodzenia, a liniowcy stracą możliwość rozliczenia zapłaconych składek w podatku dochodowym.

Grażyna J. Leśniak 18.11.2024

Identyfikator:	Dz.U.UE.L.2008.287.3
Rodzaj:	Umowa międzynarodowa
Tytuł:	Konwencja Narodów Zjednoczonych przeciwko korupcji.
Data aktu:	15/09/2005
Data ogłoszenia:	29/10/2008
Data wejścia w życie:	12/11/2008

Konwencja Narodów Zjednoczonych przeciwko korupcji.

UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION AGAINST CORRUPTION

CHAPTER I GENERAL PROVISIONS

CHAPTER II PREVENTIVE MEASURES

CHAPTER III CRIMINALISATION AND LAW ENFORCEMENT

CHAPTER IV INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

CHAPTER V ASSET RECOVERY

CHAPTER VI TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND INFORMATION EXCHANGE

CHAPTER VII MECHANISMS FOR IMPLEMENTATION

CHAPTER VIII FINAL PROVISIONS